wilson



Feb. 14. 1956 H. w. WILSON 2,734,215

SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Filed March 21. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. Maribel! W Wilson ATTORNEY.

Feb. 14, 1956 H. w. WILSON SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Filed March21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Herberl W Wilson 2 m Q mm UnitedStates Patent SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Herbert W. Wilson, FortWorth, Tex., assignor to The lifoglrltiar Company, North Canton, Ohio, acorporation 0 Application March 21, 1950, Serial No. 151,019

9 Claims. (Cl. -325) The present invention relates to suction cleaningdevices and particularly to surface cleaning tools adapted to beutilized with relatively stationary suction creating and filteringstructures connected to the tool through an elongated air conducting andmanipulating hose or wand.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaning dusting tool having a plurality of individual parts all ofwhich are maintained in locked assembled relation by a simple readilyaccessible securing device. v It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a suction cleaning tool comprising a nozzle bodystructure encased in an ornamental and sculf and impact resistingnon-metallic boot having a selectively usable surface cleaning brush anda detachable swivelled elbow to be connected to the manipulating and airconducting wand all of which are secured in position by a readilydetachable surface contacting nozzle mouth forming plate. It is afurther object of the invention to provide a selectively usable brushfor a suction cleaning nozzle which has a novel mounting and securingmeans for retaining the brush in inoperative position and in whichremoval of the brush is prevented by the surface contacting nozzleplate.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view partly in section of a suctioncleaning tool embodying my invention and with the surface cleaning brushin retracted position;

I Figure 2 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing the surfacecleaning brush in advanced or active position;

. Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figures1 and 2 with parts in sections; and

Figure -4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2and looking in the direction of the arrows.

. The nozzle comprises a cast body portion 1 having a rearwardlyprojecting tubular portion 2 adapted to mount aswivel connector as willappear hereinafter and a downwardly projecting narrow elongated nozzleforming portion 3 communicating with the swivel portion 2. An elbowconnector 4, adapted to be connected to a manipulating Wand or. flexiblehose 4a which in turn is connected to a suitable source of suction, isswivelled in the tubular section 2 of the nozzle 1 upon the bearingmembers 5 and 6 suitably secured within the hollow tubular member 2. Theportion of the elbow 4 which is telescoped within the portion 2 of thenozzle casting is provided with a peripheral groove in which is seated aring of dust sealing material 7 such as felt or the like. The telescopedportion of the elbow 4 is provided with a locking groove 8 in which a U-shaped bail 9 seats as more clearly shown in Figure 4. As shown in Fig.4, the

bottom portion of the swivel section 2 of the nozzle 1' is squared offand is provided with a pair of spaced holes 10 which receive thelockinglegs of the bail 9 thus placing the bight of the bail exteriorly of thehollow tubular section 2 of the nozzle 1 where it rests in a suitablegroove 11, see Figure 2, provided therefor.

The body portion 1 of the nozzle is also provided with a downwardlyopening brush receiving chamber 13 defined by the rear wall of thenozzle 3 and a wall 14 extending in parallel spaced relation to the rearwall of the nozzle 3. The walls forming the nozzle 3 terminate insubstantially horizontal outwardly projecting plate-like portions 16 atthe front portion of the nozzle which plate-like portions preferablyextend around the opposite lateral sides of the nozzle structure to theplane of the rear wall 14 of the brush chamber 13. p

A small seating flange 17 projects downwardly from the plate 16 ,andinwardly of the outer edge thereof to form a locking seat for a coveringboot 20 preferably constructed of shock absorbing and non-marringmaterial such as a polymerized vinyl plastic. As shown most clearly inFigures 2 and 3, the boot 20 covers the entire nozzle body 1 except forthe bottom thereof. Along the base of the rear wall 14 the lower end ofthe boot 20 may optionally be anchored by sheet metal strips 22 whichare secured in place by light rivets 23 passing through the plastic bootand the rear wall 14. The boot 20 has a stepped flange 25 underlying anouter portion of the plate 16 and abutting the downwardly projectingstop 17. This portion of the boot is clamped to the plate 16,by avertically extending peripheral flange 26 provided on the front and sideedges of a, surface engaging nozzle plate 27. The nozzle plate 27 isprovided with an opening 30 defined by inwardly turned flanges 31 lyingagainst the inside faces of the front and rear walls of the airpassageway in the nozzle 3. At the ends of the nozzle, the plate 27extends downwardly slightly below the plane of the nozzle lip definingportion 32 thereof to form end skids 33 which extend backwardly to theplane of the wall 14 of the brush chamber 13 and incline slightly at thefront and rear ends as shown most clearly in Figure 2. The opposite endsof the opening 30 in the nozzle plate 27 are closed by inclined airpassagewaydefining and securing walls 34 which are inclined inwardly andupwardly from the plane of the end skids as shown most clearly in Figure3. Each wall 34-abutsa downwardly extending securing pillar 35preferably intergral with the body 1 within the nozzle 3 and is securedthereto by a stud bolt 36. It is apparent from the foregoing that thebolts 36 anchor the floor contacting nozzle plate and the plastic bootwhich covers substantially the entire outer surfaces of the nozzleconstruction. The pillar 35 cuts off the nozzle passageway 3 anappreciable distance from the end thereof, however, the walls 34 of thenozzle plate 27 extend the effective cleaning air inlet area close tothe outer edge oflv the nozzle and well beyond the securing pillars 35.From the foregoing it will be apparent that the nozzle plate comprisesthe entire floor contacting portion of the nozzle structure and thatthis plate underliesthe lower end of all the walls of the nozzle 3. Thelower end of the edge of the wall 14 is not covered by the nozzle plate;however, this wall terminates well above the plane of the nozzle platehence it does not contact the surface being cleaned. The nozzle plate ispreferably constructed of polished steel so that it will provide asmooth non-marring carpet engaging surface. Sealing compound 40 isplaced in the nozzle plate at the point where it contacts the loweredges of the walls of the nozzle 3 to form an air seal at that point toprevent entry of air into the nozzle except under the nozzle plate andthrough the nozzle lips thereof.

The nozzle plate includes a relatively large flange 41 which extendsupwardly into the chamber 13 in spaced parallel relationship to the rearface of the rear wall of the nozzle structure. A plurality of spacedguide flanges 42, preferably formed integrally with the rear wall of thenozzle structure, project into the chamber 13 through suitable slots inthe upper portion of the large flange 41. A brush structure comprising aback 39, preferably of cast or extruded metal carrying suitable bristles43 is mounted in the chamber 13 for slidable movement between the innerface of the wall 14 and the guide flanges 42 on the rear wall of thenozzle 3. The wall 14 is provided with a central slot 45 within which.rides a projecting guide lug 46 on the brush back 39. The centralportion of the forward face of the brush back 39' is provided with aforwardly projecting lug 47 which extends into a slot 48 in the centralportion of the flange 41'. The slot 48 terminates well above the loweror floor contacting surface portion of the floor plate 27 in an inwardlybent stop tang 49 adapted to be engaged by the lug 47 to limit movementof the brush structure in the floor engaging direction and to preventdischarge of the same from the chamber 13 unless the floor platestructure is removed.

A pair of spring guide pins 51 are cast integrally with the nozzlestructure and extend into the chamber 13 from the upper wall thereof.The pins 51 are aligned with spring seating sectional cups 52 preferablyformed integrally with the brush back 39 and extending upwardlytherefrom. Compression springs 53 seat in the cups 52 and surround thepins 51 and urge the brush structure outwardly of the chamber 13 infloor engaging direction to the extent allowed by engagement of thebrush with a surface being cleaned to the limit allowed by the lug 4'7and tang 49.

A latching structure is provided for retaining the brush upwardly in thechamber 13 in non-floor engaging position as shown most clearly inFigure l. The brush latching structure comprises a flat leaf latchspring 55 secured as by a rivet 54 to the rear wall of the nozzlestructure 3 between that wall and the flange 41 of the nozzle plate 27.The spring 55 extends rearwardly so as to overlie the path of the brushback 39 and is provided with an outwardly struck latching tang 56adapted to engage under the lug 47 to retain the brush in non-activeposition as shown in Figure 1. An actuating plate 58 is riveted, asshown at 59, to the upper end of the spring 55 and projects outwardlythrough the slot 45 and a slot 60 in the boot where it terminates in adownwardly extending actuating plate 62 positioned to be actuated by thetoe of the operator to press the tang 56 towards the rear wall of thenozzle and thus release the brush when it is desired to use the same.

In the operation of the device the brush may be retained in theretracted position illustrated in Figure l in which event the nozzle isused as a straight suction cleaning device. Cleaning air flows throughthe pile of the carpet undergoing cleaning under the nozzle lips 32 andinto the nozzle 3 from whence it is conducted through elbow 4 and themanipulating Wand to the source of suction. When it is desired to pickup embedded dirt and litter, the plate 62 is subjected to a slightpressure with the toe which releases the brush structure to the actionof the springs 53 which project the brush to the surface engagingposition illustrated in Figure 2. The lug 46 extending into the slot 45provides a convenient finger rest by which the brush may be forced tothe retracted, latched condition against the bias of the springs 53. Thelug 46 is readily accessible when the nozzle is turned to upside downposition.

As shown most clearly in Figure 1, the bristles 43 are cut on the biasso as to lie substantially parallel to the plane of the surfaceundergoing cleaning to insure maximum bristle engagement therewith. Onthe forward stroke of the brush the same tends to dig into the nap ofthe carpet or other material undergoing cleaning and to remove embeddedlitter therefrom. On the rearward stroke of the cleaning tool, asillustrated in Figure 2, the brush flexes against the flange 41 of thepolished steel floor plate 27 and is cleaned of entrained litter by airpassing therethrough to the nozzle lips. It is particularly to be notedin this connection that the brush bristles are bent against a roundedand highly polished hard steel surface so that they are not subjected toa cutting action by engaging part of the cleaning structure.

The brush bristles 43 slide against the polished steel flange 41 on theplate 27 as they are moved into and out of the brush chamber 13. Thesmooth flange 41 prevents the bristles from catching, abrading or beingcut by contact with rough or sharp metallic surfaces in the nozzlestructure.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the entire exposed surface of thenozzle structure is covered by the non-marring highly polished plasticboot 20 so that the casting forming the nozzle proper need not undergoany finishing after it is withdrawn from the mold.

The plastic boot 20 forms the lock for the bail 9 which secures theswivel elbow 4 in the nozzle structure. The plastic boot in turn islocked in position by the removable nozzle plate 27 which also locks thebrush in the brush channel 13. The two studs 36 which directly securethe nozzle plate 27 also secure the boot 20, the brush 39, the bail 9and the elbow 4. If the optional locking plate and rivet 22 and 23 areutilized it is necessary also to punch out these rivets before the bootcan be removed completely from the nozzle structure to obtain access tothe bail 9 and the swivel structure for the elbow 4. Servicing of theswivel locking means or swivel structure is rarely required hence theplates 22 and 23 do not pose an objectionable service problem and givethe completed structure a finished appearance though they may be omittedif desired.

The foregoing construction is particularly simple to disassemble sincethe removal of the two studs 36 releases the plate 27 which in turnreleases the brush structure and the covering boot 20. To assemble thestructure all portions thereof may be properly positioned by hand afterwhich the studs 36 are seated which secures all parts in final assembledrelationship.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in considerabledetail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in thearrangement, proportion and construction of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a hollow body memberhaving a surface cleaning air inlet nozzle portion and a tubular portioncommunicating with said nozzle portion, a tubular member adapted to beconnected to a source of suction including a seating section swivelledin said tubular portion of said hollow body member, said seating sectionhaving a peripheral shoulder facing away from the end of said sectionwhich is received in said tubular portion of said nozzle member, asecuring element extending through said tubular portion of said nozzlemember and engaging said shoulder to retain said tubular member andnozzle member in assembled relation, a boot of flexible materialencasing the said body member above said air inlet nozzle portionthereof and retaining said securing member against removal, a surfacecontacting base plate detachably secured to said body portion and havinga nozzle opening registering with the nozzle portion of said body memberand securing portions on said base plate anchoring said boot to saidbody member.

2. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a body member havingan elongated hollow nozzle member adapted to be connected to a source ofsuction and an open bottomed brush chamber extending parallel to saidnozzle member, a brush slidably mounted in said chamber, spring meansbiasing said brush to project through the open bottom of said chamber, asurface engaging plate secured to said hollow nozzle member having acleaning air inlet nozzle opening registering with the interior of saidhollow nozzle member, said surface engaging plate having a portionprojecting into said brush chamber, means on said brush movable intoengagement with said portion of said plate to limit projection of saidbrush by said spring means and to secure said brush against removal fromsaid chamber, a spring latch member in said chamber adapted to retainsaid brush in. retracted non-operativie position against the bias ofsaid spring means, and means for releasing said latch having anoperating plate extending through the rear wall of said chamber inposition to be actuated by the operators foot to release said latch.

3. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a hollow body memberhaving a surface cleaning air inlet nozzle portion and a tubular portioncommunicating with said nozzle portion, a tubular member adapted to beconnected to a source of suction including a seating section swivelledin said tubular portion of said hollow body member, said seating sectionhaving a peripheral shoulder facing away from the end of said sectionwhich is received in said tubular portion of said nozzle member, asecuring element extending through said tubular portion of said nozzlemember and engaging said shoulder to retain said tubular member andnozzle member in assembled relation, a boot of flexible materialencasing the said body member above said air inlet nozzle portionthereof and retaining said securing member against removal, a surfacecontacting base plate having a nozzle opening registering with thenozzle portion of said body member, said base plate having securingportions anchoring said boot to said body member, and means fordetachably securing said base plate to said body member.

4. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a body member havingan elongated hollow nozzle portion, an open bottom brush chamberextending parallel to said nozzle portion and a tubular exhaust membercommunieating with said hollow nozzle portion and extending rearwardlythereof; a tubular connecting member adapted to be connected to a sourceof suction swivelled in said exhaust member, said connecting memberbeing formed with a peripheral shoulder inwardly of the outer end ofsaid exhaust member and facing outwardly of said exhaust member, ananchoring member extending through said exhaust member and engaging saidshoulder to secure said connecting member against displacement, a shellof plastic material encasing said body member except the bottom thereofand overlying said anchoring member to secure it against displacement, abrush slidably mounted in said chamber, spring means biasing said brushoutwardly of said chamber to surface engaging position, a surfacecontacting plate secured to the bottom of said body member having an airinlet nozzle opening to the interior of said hollow nozzle portion,means on said plate for clamping portions of the lower edges of saidplastic shell to said body member, and means on said plate extendinginto said brush chamber in position to be engaged by said brush to limitthe projection thereof under the bias of said spring means.

5. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a body member havingan elongated hollow nozzle member adapted to be connected to a source ofsuction and an open bottomed brush chamber extending parallel to saidnozzle member, a brush slidably mounted in said chamber, spring meansbiasing said brush to project through the open bottom of said chamber, asurface engaging plate secured to said hollow nozzle member having acleaning air inlet nozzle opening registering with the interior of saidhollow nozzle member, said surface engaging plate having a part in saidchamber between said nozzle and brush forming a smooth guide surface andbearing surface for the bristle portion of said brush, a stop lug onsaid brush, a stop member on said part of said nozzle plate positionedto be engaged by 6 said lug-to limit movement of said brush-under thebias" of said spring means, a spring latch member in said chamberpositioned to engage said stop lug'and secure said brush in retractednon-operating position when said brush is moved to said position, andmeans for releasing said latch having an operating part outside saidchamber.

6. Asuction air cleaning tool comprising anelongated nozzle memberhaving front and rear walls, means cooperating with said rear wall todefine an open bottom brush chamber including a third wall positionedrearwardly of said rear wall and terminating above the plane of thelower ends of'said front and rear walls, a plurality of spaced guideflanges extending from said rear wall into said chamber, a brushstructure including a back 'and brush bristles projecting therefrom,said brush back being slidably mounted in said chamber betweensaid guideflanges and said third wall, spring means in said chamber biasing saidbrush structure into carpet engaging position, a stop lug on said brushback projecting towardsaid rear wall between said guide flanges, a leafspring secured to said rear wall and extending into the path of movementof said brush back, a tang in said spring positioned to engage said lugto retain said brush structure in non-operating position, said thirdwall having a slot therein, a guide flange on said brush back extendinginto said slot, and-a release member for said leaf spring extendingthrough said slot above the non-operating position of said brush.

7. A suction air cleaning tool comprising an elongated nozzle memberhaving front and rear walls, means cooperating with said rear wall todefine an open bottom brush chamber including a third wall positionedrearwardly of said rear wall and terminating above the plane of thelower ends of said front and rear walls, a plurality of spaced guideflanges extending from said rear wall into said chamber, a brushstructure including a back and brush bristles projecting therefrom, saidbrush back being slidably mounted in said chamber between said guideflanges and said third wall, spring means in said chamber biasing saidbrush structure into carpet engaging position, a surface'engaging plateunderlying said nozzle member and having a cleaning air inlet opening tothe space between said front and rear walls, means detachably securingsaid plate to said nozzle portion, said plate having a flange extendinginto said chamber in parallel spaced relation to said rear wall toprovide a smooth guide surface for said bristles, and means on saidplate for engaging said brush back to prevent removal thereof from saidchamber.

8. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising, a body member havinga pair of elongated parallel open bottom chambers forming a suctionnozzle and a brush chamber and a conduit member adapted to be connectedto a source of suction communicating with said nozzle chamber andextending rearwardly of said body member over said brush chamber, abrush slidably mounted in said brush chamber, spring means biasing saidbrush to project through the open bottom of said brush chamber, meanslimiting the extent to which said brush is projected by said springmeans, and a latch mechanism including a spring latch in said brushchamber adapted to engage and retain said brush in a retractednon-operating position against the bias of said spring means and a toeoperated lever for releasing said spring latch having an operating partprojecting rearwardly of said body member beneath said conduit.

9. A suction air surface cleaning tool comprising a body member havingan elongated hollow nozzle portion at its front terminating in an openbottom forming an air inlet bounded by an outwardly projecting flangealong the front and sides of said air inlet, an open bottom brushchamber extending in parallel relation to said nozzle portion at therear thereof and a tubular exhaust conduit communicating with saidnozzle portion and extending rearwardly of said body; a tubularconnecting member adapted to be connected to a source of suctionswivelled in said exhaust. conduit and being formed with a peripheralshoulder positioned inwardly of the open end of said conduit and facingoutwardly thereof, an anchoring member extending through said exhaustconduit and engaging said shoulder to secure said connecting memberagainst displacement, a shell of plastic material encasing said bodymember except for the bottom portion of said brush chamber and said airinlet and overlying said anchoring member to secure it againstdisplacement, and said shell having a portion lying against theunderside of said flange, a. brush slidably mounted in said chamber,spring means biasing said brush outwardly of said chamber into surfaceengaging position, a surface contacting plate secured to the undersideof said body member and having an air inlet nozzle opening to saidnozzle portion air inlet, means on said plate engaging the portions ofsaid shell underlying said flange to clamp said shell to said bodymember, and, means on said plate extending into said brush chamber intothe path of movement of said brush to form a stop limiting theprojection of said brush by said spring means.

Relierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMcKenzie Feb. 13, Spencer I an. 24, Oblosser Mar. 24, Martinet Apr. 8,Bass Mar. 26, Mall Nov. 19, Dunbar June 25, Ross June 17, Seyfried Feb.9, Lofgren May 4, Peterson Feb. 7, Humphrey Oct. 9, Kelly Apr. 21, Lewytet al. July 6,

